Irish Mum Who Lost Her Baby Son Says Anomaly Scans In Pregnancy Should Be Given To Everyone

12 years ago Grainne McSteen gave birth to a beautiful baby boy. But little Ethan had a very serious condition called hypoplastic left heart system which meant the left side of his heart didn't develop in the womb. His mum wasn't offered an anomaly scan during her pregnancy. She believes that the delay in recognising his condition at birth meant he became starved of oxygen, suffered a seizure and brain damage. Little Ethan died in his mum's arms just one week into his life. Grainne believes that Ethan's chances of survival would have been greatly increased if he had been offered special care as soon as he was born.

"Some hospitals will offer the anomaly scan at 20 weeks but alot don't. Some will give it on request but alot of people don't know to request it. When we are being scanned anyway then everyone should be able to receive this scan that could be life saving or at least prepare us for the road ahead."

Out of 19 maternity hospitals in Ireland - less than half of them offer this 'big' scan at 20 weeks. Known as the anomaly scan, it examines the shape and structure of your baby's head, spine, abdominal wall, your baby's heart and valves, kidneys, arms, legs hands and feet. Last week, two of the Ireland's leading obstetricians issued stark warnings about Irelands "unacceptable level of risk" to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health as part of its review of Ireland's National Maternity Strategy. UCC's Professor of obstetrics Louise Kenny and former Master of the National Maternity Hospital, Holles Street, Dr Peter Boylan, told the Committee that they have serious concerns about the fact that neither specialist ultrasound nor foetal medicine services are available to all pregnant women in this country. Dr Boylan explained:

"At the moment there is a huge variation in availability of ultrasound for pregnant women around the country. This has serious implications for the quality of care which can be given to women in pregnancy."

Grainne has now set up of a petition in Ethan's name - she says after 12 years of anger she feels like she should do something to change the system:

"If I felt that lessons were learned in the 12 years it might be easier, but I keep seeing stories of babies dying under similar circumstances and it is just so painful. No other parent or child should have to go through this suffering if it can be helped with a 20 week scan."

She believes women are not being offered equal care:

"I don't think ante natal care should differ just because of the area you are having the baby. Each mother and baby should have the same care all over the country."

Grainne plans to deliver her petition to the Health Minister and has this message for him:

 "12 years ago when I was just 19 years of age that I had to make the impossible decision to take my son off the machines that were keeping him alive. I then had hours of watching him struggle to breath until finally he took his last breath at one week old while in my arms. This may have been prevented if this anomaly scan was made available to me as it was to other women in different parts of the country. I would like to ask him why antenatal care is not the same standard no matter what hospital and area you are receiving it. There will always be a piece missing from our family - but I can't sit and do nothing anymore.

You can get involved in Grainne's petition here What do you think ladies, is it acceptable that we don't offer this scan to everyone?